Judge Backs NPS in Yellowstone Challenge
A federal judge rejected a challenge to regulations limiting the number of snowmobilers in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and requiring that all snowmobilers be accompanied by commercial guides.
Under United States National Park Service interim rules upheld by U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer, snowmobiles are limited to 720 per day at Yellowstone and a combined 140 per day at Grand Teton and on the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, which connects the parks.
The interim rules were put in place until the Park Service drafts final snowmobile rules for the parks. The final rules are expected to be released next year.
The decision rejected a challenge brought forth by the Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association’s challenge as well as the State of Wyoming, which argued that tourism had suffered in the area.
